KANSAS - The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is proud to bring you the "KCAC Alumni Spotlight" series. Every two weeks, the conference will aim to highlight an alumnus of one of our KCAC full member institutions. We hope in this series to highlight successes that KCAC alumni had not only on the field, court, etc., but also in the classroom and now in their chosen professional field.
KCAC ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT — SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE
Alumnus: Dr. Anjaih Clemons-Williams
Degree Earned at Southwestern: B.A. in Business Administration, 2011; M.S. in Leadership, 2013; Ed.D in Educational Leadership, 2025
Career Alumnus Currently Holds: Executive Director of Strategic Operations, Office of the President at Southwestern College. Also the co-owner of A&J Studio, a media company specializing in weddings and business branding.
How did your time at Southwestern help to prepare you for life after college/entering the workforce?
CLEMONS-WILLIAMS: "My time at Southwestern College played a foundational role in preparing me for life after college and entering the workforce. As a student-athlete in track and field, I developed discipline, resilience, and time management skills—amongst other things—that continue to shape how I approach both personal and professional challenges. Being recruited and mentored by my coaches—TJ Harris, Mike Kirkland and Jim Helmer—not only pushed me to grow athletically, but also helped me build confidence, accountability, and a strong work ethic. Beyond athletics, the leadership and investment from the college’s administration—particularly the college president at the time, President Merriman and VP of Student Affairs, Dr. Dawn Pleas—had a lasting impact on my development and opportunities. Overall, SC provided me with more than just an education. It cultivated a mindset of leadership and intentional growth in every aspect of my life. These experiences prepared me to navigate the workplace with confidence, adaptability and sense of purpose."
Were there any pre-professional experiences (internships/job shadows/etc.) during your college years that prepared you for entering your chosen field?
CLEMONS-WILLIAMS: "The pre-professional experience that prepared me most for my current field was a graduate assistantship in the Office of Student Affairs at Southwestern. I learned about a number of functional areas within student affairs ranging from residence life, student conduct, student activities and admission. I was also introduced to the internal operations of a college. I am beyond grateful to the student affairs staff and college administration for believing in me and giving me a seat at the table—which has afforded me many opportunities at SC including serving in mid and high-level positions and earning a doctorate degree."
What lessons did you learn competing in collegiate athletics that helped prepare you for life after your playing days were over?
CLEMONS-WILLIAMS: "My collegiate athletic experience taught me — and continues to reinforce — the value of teamwork and being part of something bigger than myself. My entire collegiate experience shaped how I approach leadership, collaboration and adversity both professionally and personally."
ABOUT THE KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and sponsors 28 varsity sports. Founded in 1890, the KCAC is the second oldest intercollegiate athletic conference in the country. As the conference home to 14 member institutions, the KCAC emphasizes commitment, cooperation, high achievement, and working towards a common goal in the act of competition. To keep up with the latest conference news, follow the KCAC on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram using the handle @kcacsports.
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